Elizabeth May You Respond?
Dear Elizabeth,
Thank you for the invite to the Climate Strike march in Montreal.
Can I count on you to stand up for the Jews, Muslims, and Sikhs, who are being discriminated here in Quebec? Will you advocate referring Bill 21, An Act Respecting the Laicity of the State, to the Supreme Court of Canada, pursuant to s. 53.1(b) of the Supreme Court Act?
Do let me know before Friday. Thanks.
Jack Locke
NDP leader Jagmeet Singh speaking in Montreal today.
Has federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh turned his back on his Quebec brothers and sisters?
It certainly seemed like it from my perspective as I stood within arm’s-length of Singh as he spoke to University of McGill students, NDP supporters, and the media earlier today.
No mention by him of Quebec’s horrendous, discriminatory Bill 21, now an Act Respecting the Laicity of the State. Not one word.
Starting out with a long opening in French, it seemed like Singh was not going to address the audience in English, a clear faux-pas, but an indication that Singh was reaching out to one segment of the Quebec demographic.
Prior to his commencement there was a clear indication that NDP staffers wanted no one near Singh to be wearing “No Loi 21” buttons. Although they were unsuccessful, it was clear the turban-wearing leader wanted to stay clear of the subject. Sad really.
You would think that Singh would and could be a clear champion of human rights and show leadership where the other parties fear to tread. And maybe he might? Or not. At least today, he chose not to address the major issue of this campaign, defending the rights of Canadians when bullied by discriminatory provincial pooh-bahs.
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As the people of Quebec suffer under a Francois Legault government, you’d think the people leading our national parties would offer some hope. I believe they should support the idea of referring Quebec’s ‘Act respecting the laicity of the State‘ (Bill 21) to the Supreme Court to determine its constitutionality. Under s. 53 of the Supreme Court Act, Canada’s Governor in Council may do so. Please share.
Nightshade, Black Nightshade
Growing free in my planter
Your marmalade, sweet marmalade
Cannot be any scanter.
With flowers star white, anthers yellow
I hope to heaven you are edible
Whether you be a poisonous fellow
Your taste, your taste—Incredible.
Nightshade, Black Nightshade
You humbly, humbly do
Happily, happily aid, aid, aid
Help my tongue Timbuktu.
Lokshtanov 